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UCS replaces VW's green title with 'dirtiest tailpipe'

When it comes to tailpipe emissions, Volkswagen may have leapfrogged Ford and General Motors. Just not in the right direction. That's what the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is saying in the wake of the German automaker's diesel-emissions scandal. After recalculating what it thinks are the real-world diesel-engine tailpipe emissions levels now that we know about VW's "defeat devices," the UCS says the actual diesel emissions would cause the company's total fleet to worsen its environmental impact by about 25 percent. The VW diesels alone, which account for just 0.7 percent of new-vehicle sales, would most likely make up eight percent of total light-duty-vehicle tailpipe emissions, UCS says. Prior to the scandal, the UCS had VW tied with Toyota and Nissan for the third-cleanest fleet, behind Hyundai/Kia and Honda. The recalculated VW has been downgraded to Chrysler territory, which is, in effect, the bottom of the heap when it comes to tailpipe emissions. The UCS adds that the current VW diesels spew out the amount of emissions similar to a typical 2005 vehicle. So much for moving forward. You can read UCS' rather scathing synopsis here. UCS isn't the first entity to bump down Volkswagen's green-car credentials after the discovery that its diesels might be emitting as much as 40 times the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during typical driving than official test results said they did, and isn't likely to be the last. In September, Green Car Journal stripped the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and 2010 Audi A3 TDI diesels of their Green Car Of The Year Awards. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) also removed VW diesel vehicles off of its "Green Scores" list last month.

VW TDI ads star four 'salty' ladies and a stinky dog named Tuna

The Kim Kardashian sex tape just keeps on giving: it brought the Three Golden Sisters to our attention, and now Volkswagen has used their comedic, Bronx grandmother schtick to promote its TDI engines. The ads are another round in the fight against the malicious perceptions of diesel – like how they're slow and loud (they aren't), that it's hard to find a station to refill (it isn't), and that they stink (they don't). Tanner Foust makes an appearance in one spot to dispel the notion of sluggishness, and Tuna the Dastardly Dog proves that she (or he?) can outstink a diesel any day. You'll find Tuna in the ad above, the other three ads are below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Only VW, Volvo are doing enough to electrify in Europe, study says

Among major carmakers, Volkswagen and Volvo are doing enough to electrify their vehicle lineups in Europe, and the EU needs to set tougher CO2 emission limits if it wants to meet Green Deal targets, according to a climate group's study. Sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids almost tripled last year, boosted by tighter emission standards and government subsidies. This summer, the European Union is expected to announce more ambitious CO2 targets; by 2030, the average CO2 emissions of new cars should be 50% below 2021 levels, versus the existing target of 37.5%. Volkswagen aims to have 55% group-wide BEV sales in Europe by 2030, while Swedish carmaker Volvo, owned by China's Geely says its lineup will be fully electric by then. VW ID4 front three quarter dark View 19 Photos Based on IHS Markit car production forecasts, according to the study from European campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E), Volkswagen and Volvo have "aggressive and credible strategies" to shift from fossil-fuel cars to electric vehicles. Others like Ford Motor Co have set ambitious targets, "but lack a robust plan to get there," T&E said. Ford plans an all-electric lineup in Europe by 2030. T&E said BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Daimler AG and Toyota rank the worst as they have low BEV sales, have "no ambitious phase-out targets, no clear industrial strategy, and an over-reliance in the case of BMW, Daimler and Toyota on hybrids." JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors, says its luxury Jaguar brand will be all-electric by 2025, but has been less specific about electrification of its higher-volume Land Rover brand. BMW and Daimler have been reluctant to set hard deadlines for phasing out fossil-fuel cars. T&E said even if carmakers meet their targets, in 2030 BEV sales could be 10 percentage points below those needed to meet the EU's Green Deal — which targets net zero emissions by 2050. Rather than a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, based on carmakers' existing production plans, the EU could set more ambitious targets, T&E said - an up to 35% reduction in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2025, around 50% by 2027 and up to 70% in 2030. "Targets need to be gradually tightened so that carmakers not only commit to phasing out fossil fuels, but develop a strategy that gets them there on time," Julia Poliscanova, T&E senior director for vehicles and e-mobility, said in a statement.